41 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Walt Grace's Submarine Test, January 1967 Lyrics
Walt Grace, desperately hating this whole place
Dreamed to discover a new space and buried himself alive
Inside his basement
Tongue on the side of his face meant
He's working away on displacement
And what it would take to survive
Because when you're done with this world
You know the next is up to you
And his wife told his kids he was crazy
And his friends said he'd fail if he tried
But with the will to work hard and a library card
He took a homemade, fan blade, one-man submarine ride
That morning the sea was mad and I mean it
Waves as big as he'd seen it deep in his dreams at home
From dry land, he rolled it over to wet sand
Closed the hatch up with one hand
And pedaled off alone
Because when you're done with this world
You know the next is up to you
And for once in his life, it was quiet
As he learned how to turn in the tide
And the sky was aflare when he came up for air
In his homemade, fan blade, one-man submarine ride
One evening, when weeks had passed since his leaving
The call she planned on receiving finally made it home
She accepted the news she never expected
The operator connected the call from Tokyo
Because when you're done with this world
You know the next is up to you
Now his friends bring him up when they're drinking
At the bar with his name on the side
And they smile when they can, as they speak of the man
Who took a homemade, fan blade, one-man submarine ride
Dreamed to discover a new space and buried himself alive
Inside his basement
Tongue on the side of his face meant
He's working away on displacement
And what it would take to survive
Because when you're done with this world
You know the next is up to you
And his friends said he'd fail if he tried
But with the will to work hard and a library card
He took a homemade, fan blade, one-man submarine ride
Waves as big as he'd seen it deep in his dreams at home
From dry land, he rolled it over to wet sand
Closed the hatch up with one hand
And pedaled off alone
Because when you're done with this world
You know the next is up to you
As he learned how to turn in the tide
And the sky was aflare when he came up for air
In his homemade, fan blade, one-man submarine ride
The call she planned on receiving finally made it home
She accepted the news she never expected
The operator connected the call from Tokyo
Because when you're done with this world
You know the next is up to you
At the bar with his name on the side
And they smile when they can, as they speak of the man
Who took a homemade, fan blade, one-man submarine ride
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Walt Grace survived.
"And his wife told his kids he was crazy," his wife did not believe that he would succeed.
"She accepted the news she never expected," this confirms that he survived against her expectations.
"Now his friends bring him up when they're drinking," his friends reminisce because he had the courage to change his life, to move on. He did not die.
It's a positive, motivational story.
If you are afraid of change you will take the side of his wife and friends, if you are looking for change and adventure knowing that it will bring adversity and struggle, you will take Walt's. John Mayer hid this ambiguity excellently in his lyrics.
"Cause when you're done with this world You know the next is up to you"
One of his best!
Walt Grace did not Die! He buried himself ALIVE inside his basement cause he was working so hard on the submarine. The lines ''He's working away on displacement and what it would take to survive''' indicates hes not planning a suicide mission. He must have read about submarines and how to build them cause - " with the will to work hard and a library card''. He worked so hard cause he wanted to discover new things in life.
The lines ''And his wife told his kids he was crazy and his friends said he'd fail if he tried'' makes it even more easy to understand how everyone in his life thought he was a crazy S.O.B destined to fail. One evening his wife got a call, a call she didn't expect, cause she thought he'd be dead at sea. But she's proven wrong ''She accepted the news she never expected'' A call from TOkyo.. Walt Grace made to the other side of the world!!
Really guys as John puts it '' when your done with this world, the next is up to you'', it doesnt matter what anyone else thinks. call you stupid whatever, work hard, effing prove them wrong!!
As much as I prefer "this", I think the lyric is "desperately hating HIS whole place"
And in the last verse, I believe it is "and they smile when they CAN as they speak of the man".
Perhaps John's best songwriting to date...but that may just be my bias for good folk storytelling.
Question will always be (hopefully he never reveals): did Walt live or die? Everyone, I suspect, will have their views.
it's actually desperately hating his OLD place, I read the lyric booklet :O)
it's actually desperately hating his OLD place, I read the lyric booklet :O)
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003976650814
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003976650814
I love how you are all seeking the meaning to the song, but no one mentions the fact it is dated January, 1967.
I love how you are all seeking the meaning to the song, but no one mentions the fact it is dated January, 1967.
Check this out: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CEwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.uscg.mil%2Flegal%2FCDOA%2FCommandant_Decisions%2FS_and_R_1479_1679%2F1648%2520-%2520GRACE.pdf&ei=wmzST9iTD6Kb2QWSm8CyDw&usg=AFQjCNGGk83aaBh8f31TSpef7BBvdRLd_w
Check this out: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CEwQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.uscg.mil%2Flegal%2FCDOA%2FCommandant_Decisions%2FS_and_R_1479_1679%2F1648%2520-%2520GRACE.pdf&ei=wmzST9iTD6Kb2QWSm8CyDw&usg=AFQjCNGGk83aaBh8f31TSpef7BBvdRLd_w
Or just google WALT GRACE 1967. There was a seaman who got into some trouble while aboard...
Or just google WALT GRACE 1967. There was a seaman who got into some trouble while aboard a sea vessel, while at sea, and the link takes you to the diposition regarding the rather funny incident. Perhaps John related to the incident, and wrote this odd song about it.
Or, is it a coincidence that there was a seaman in 1967, named Walt Grace, who got into trouble, as per the link? Perhaps, we'll never know. LOL
This is hands down one of Mayer's best songs. In reference to the first comment made, I think Walt did survive. I think thats the "News she never expected". She expected a call saying they had found him dead at sea. But she got a call from him saying he had made it. I think he packed up and left his family to start a new life because he was too unhappy where he was.
The first thing thing I thought upon truly listening to these lyrics is "Taking on Water" - a track by John Mayer that was never released and he only played a live several times.
I think it hits on the same theme of being unsatisfied and hoping for more; dreaming of more. Then pushing off to "sea" hoping merely on a sail or, in this case, a homemade submarine looking for more.
I agree with one of the previous couple of posts that this is quickly going up on the list of the most relatable songs he has. Nothing compares to breaking out of a comfort zone in the name of avoiding mediocrity. The line, "Now his friends bring him up when they're drinking" really hit home for me. Sometimes I think that's all of us ever really want - to be remembered.
You're completely right with the "Taking on Water" references. I think this song is "Taking on Water" in a narrative form. Thanks for mentioning this. :)
You're completely right with the "Taking on Water" references. I think this song is "Taking on Water" in a narrative form. Thanks for mentioning this. :)
I agree with fuekewl. His friends talk of him in the bar because he did the thing he believed in. They though he was just a crazy s.o.b. but he proved them all wrong by pulling it off. I definately think he survived,, his wife got a reverse charge call from Tokyo from him saying he had made it and wouldn't be coming back again... I really love this song,,, i find it really inspirational,, follow your dreams nomatter what anyone says! Would make an awesome short film wouldn't it?!
Definitely definitely one of the best John Mayer songs to date. I've never heard anything like it, the sound is completely different from anything he's ever done and it's soo very satisfying. Beautiful and inspiring in the highest regard. I don't think there is anything that inspires us more than listening to a story of success.
Walt, congrats, you made it.
Mayer's best song to date IMO.
I believe that he lives. His wife called him crazy and clearly didn't expect him to make it. Therefore when John says "the call she planned on expecting," he is implying it is the call confirming Walt's death. However, the next line "she accepted the news she never expected" shows that the call did not confirm his death at all, but rather was probably Walt himself.
John Mayer really outdid himself with this song. Tells a beautiful, meaningful and elaborate story while it's still clear and quite concise